Hand tool for bending metal molding strips



NOV. 15, 1955 R KONOLA 2,723,578

HAND TOOL FOR BENDING METAL MOLDING STRIPS F iled May 27, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent HAND TOOL FOR BENDING METAL MOLDING STRIPS This invention relates to bending tools.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bending tool which will facilitate the manual bending of a piece of metal molding around a short radius.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bending tool of the abovetype which will prevent buckling of the web forming a part of the molding.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a bending tool of the above type wherein both right and left hand bends may be performed with equal facility.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bending tool bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and eificient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device and showing in phantom a length of molding being bentaround a short radius;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the device in operative use within the hands.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, the tool includes a handle portion formed of an elongated flat bar of suitable metal integrally formed at one end with a neck portion 11, the neck portion 11 being bent at an obtuse angle (Fig. 2) to the handle portion 10, substantially as illustrated.

A bending plate 12 of arcuate cross section (Fig. 2) integrally formed at the end of the neck'portion 11 is provided on one face with upper and lower grooves 13 and 14, respectively, each of the grooves being adapted to receive therewithin the webbing 15 of a length of metal molding 16 of the type employed by cabinet makers and used on cabinet and table tops.

A cylindrical bearing member 17 is suitably mounted transversely on the face of the neck portion 11 adjacent to the handle portion 10 and rotatably mounts therewithin a shaft 18. A pad 19 is secured to one end of the shaft 18, while a pad 20 is secured to the other end, the faces of the pads 19 and 20 being positioned parallel to the face of the neck 11 and being adapted to lie flush with one side of the molding 16, as shown in phantom in Fig. 3.

It will be noted that the grooves 13 and 14 are of substantially V-shaped cross section.

In operation, the molding 16 is disposed against the pad 19 (Fig. 3) with the webbing 15 aligned with the groove 13. The handle 10 is gripped as shown in Fig. 5 while the other end of the molding 16 is gripped with the other hand, and bent around the curved plate 12 to the desired bend. The groove 13 receives therewithin the web 15 and prevents buckling of the latter.

By inverting the molding 16 and placing the web 15 thereof in the groove 14 and the body portion of the molding against the pad 20, by a similar operation the molding may be bent in the opposite direction.

It will be noted that the pads 19 and 20 are rotatable through three hundred sixty degrees for easier positioning of the work. Thedevice may also be used with equal facility for both r'ght and left hand bends by reversing the work or tool.

It will be apparent that the tool is formed entirely of metal and may be manufactured at a relatively low cost. The device will prove popular with cabinet makers who use metal moldings and to enable artisans to provide a professional appearance to the curved molding required in modern designs.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desired to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

A bending tool comprising a handle portion, a neck at one end of said handle portion, said neck extending outwardly at an obtuse angle to said handle portion, a curved bending plate connected to the end of said neck, a transverse bearing member secured to the face of said neck adjacent said handle, a shaft rotatably mounted within said bearing member and extending outwardly at at least one end thereof, a pad member secured to at least one end of said shaft, said pad member being adapted to abut the body portion of the molding to be bent, said bending plate on the face thereof adjacent said handle portion having at least one groove adapted to receive therewithin the webbing of the molding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

